[Sophia M.]

General Discussion Thread 09.11.2025​

Hey GrayViners,

I hope you’re doing okay this morning. September 11 is one of those days that never fades from memory—it changed our nation and touched so many lives. We pause today to remember those we lost, and to honor the strength of families, first responders, and communities who carried on in the years that followed.

So I’d like to ask: What moment from 9/11 has stayed with you the most, after all these years?

Image source: Unsplash

Even now, certain moments from that day still stay with us—images, feelings, or simple acts of kindness that we’ll never forget.

This space is here for your reflections, shared with the care and respect the day deserves.

Warmly,
Sophia

 

[nitram]

It is a day I will never forget, way too much to write about.

I was an eyewitness to the airliner that struck the Pentagon.

People who were injured and killed had kids in my kids school.

I worked at the SEC offsite in Springfield Va. and knew people in the SEC in New York that were injured and killed.

 

[doug12]

These images will always remain with me but more so because my oldest son had stopped by for coffee after his work shift, Two years later I will lose my son!

 

[NIBOR0]

It was a Tuesday, my day off. I got up made coffee and turned on the news to see the plane hit one of the towers. My sister was a flight attendant so I frantically called my Mom to see where she was and found out she was still in Phoenix to my relief. I just watched the news and cried so hard. I'll never forget that day.

 

[Wiseoldone]

The images of the planes as it happened and thinking it happened here

 

[Hello Kitty]

I was working on Capitol Hill for a member of congress. We watched along with every one else the attack on the twin towers. We thought surely we we next. The chaos and panic of thousands of people trying to get home to their families still lingers to this day…

 

[senior71]

A day I will never forget. We lived in Los Angeles, and my brother worked nights and had just gotten home. He came into my bedroom and said an airplane had just hit the World Trade Center. I got up and went to watch. Was it an accident or on purpose? A few minutes later, we see a black spot coming toward the center. Then we realized it was another airplane. When it hit, my first thought was OMG, this is war! A day never to be forgotten.

 

[Hazeleyes]

I worked 10 blocks from the twin towers and watched as both planes struck the buildings. So much dust, smoke. Broken glass, people, papers and all sorts of stuff Fallon to the ground below.
When I was finally allowed to leave my office was able to get a ride with some other employees uptown to the driver’s mother’s apartment. We stayed there and after a while went to eat at a restaurant. Go figure the credit card machine did not work. We all pooled our money together to pay for the bill. Went back to apartment and hung out till bridge was open for us to drive home. 7 of us in a Prius. I did not mind as it was a ride. Was dropped close to home as I told Ron to just continue on the parkway as he was dropping the others home as well. It was a 12 block walk but from sitting on console in front it was a welcome pleasure. It was a very long day that I have not forgotten. Every year I go for medical testing from the medical issues I got from there. I went for my testing September 8th.

 

[DrWooly]

Was up & getting ready for second shift job, and was just frozen in front of TV….just couldn’t fathom what happened even hours after. What’s stuck w/ me the most though, is a gentleman here in Indy standing on a bridge waving a huge American flag for passing motorists EVERY 9/11 since! There ARE people who’ll never forget, and to those, we salute you! May you ALWAYS outnumber the vocal minority!

 

[Gibb]

My husband was home sleeping, he worked all night. I called him and woke him up. I remember all air traffic was grounded. The only thing flying were the fighter jets patrolling the north/south corridor. I live in Pennsylvania. It was very scary.

 

[Sophia M.]

It is a day I will never forget, way too much to write about.

I was an eyewitness to the airliner that struck the Pentagon.

People who were injured and killed had kids in my kids school.

I worked at the SEC offsite in Springfield Va. and knew people in the SEC in New York that were injured and killed.

That must have been so hard to live through, especially seeing the Pentagon strike with your own eyes and knowing families who were affected. Thank you for sharing such a personal memory with us.

 

[Sophia M.]

These images will always remain with me but more so because my oldest son had stopped by for coffee after his work shift, Two years later I will lose my son!

I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Carrying the memory of that morning alongside the grief of losing your son is incredibly heavy. Your words honor him, and we’re grateful you chose to share them here.

 

[Sophia M.]

It was a Tuesday, my day off. I got up made coffee and turned on the news to see the plane hit one of the towers. My sister was a flight attendant so I frantically called my Mom to see where she was and found out she was still in Phoenix to my relief. I just watched the news and cried so hard. I'll never forget that day.

I can only imagine how frightening that must have been, not knowing where your sister was at first. The relief of finding out she was safe, mixed with the heartbreak of what was happening, really comes through in your words.

 

[Sophia M.]

The images of the planes as it happened and thinking it happened here

Those images are burned into memory. It’s something none of us will ever be able to forget.

 

[Sophia M.]

I was working on Capitol Hill for a member of congress. We watched along with every one else the attack on the twin towers. We thought surely we we next. The chaos and panic of thousands of people trying to get home to their families still lingers to this day…

That sounds overwhelming to have been right there on Capitol Hill. The fear and panic of those hours must have been unlike anything else.

 

[Sophia M.]

A day I will never forget. We lived in Los Angeles, and my brother worked nights and had just gotten home. He came into my bedroom and said an airplane had just hit the World Trade Center. I got up and went to watch. Was it an accident or on purpose? A few minutes later, we see a black spot coming toward the center. Then we realized it was another airplane. When it hit, my first thought was OMG, this is war! A day never to be forgotten.

You described it so clearly. Watching it unfold in real time and realizing it wasn’t an accident—it really did feel like the world changed in that instant.

 

[Sophia M.]

I worked 10 blocks from the twin towers and watched as both planes struck the buildings. So much dust, smoke. Broken glass, people, papers and all sorts of stuff Fallon to the ground below.
When I was finally allowed to leave my office was able to get a ride with some other employees uptown to the driver’s mother’s apartment. We stayed there and after a while went to eat at a restaurant. Go figure the credit card machine did not work. We all pooled our money together to pay for the bill. Went back to apartment and hung out till bridge was open for us to drive home. 7 of us in a Prius. I did not mind as it was a ride. Was dropped close to home as I told Ron to just continue on the parkway as he was dropping the others home as well. It was a 12 block walk but from sitting on console in front it was a welcome pleasure. It was a very long day that I have not forgotten. Every year I go for medical testing from the medical issues I got from there. I went for my testing September 8th.

Your story is incredibly moving. To have been so close, to carry those memories and health challenges even now, is such a heavy burden. Thank you for sharing your experience with such honesty.

 

[Sophia M.]

Was up & getting ready for second shift job, and was just frozen in front of TV….just couldn’t fathom what happened even hours after. What’s stuck w/ me the most though, is a gentleman here in Indy standing on a bridge waving a huge American flag for passing motorists EVERY 9/11 since! There ARE people who’ll never forget, and to those, we salute you! May you ALWAYS outnumber the vocal minority!

That image of the man waving the flag each year is so powerful. It’s comforting to be reminded that, even in such a painful time, people have found ways to honor and remember.

 

[Sophia M.]

My husband was home sleeping, he worked all night. I called him and woke him up. I remember all air traffic was grounded. The only thing flying were the fighter jets patrolling the north/south corridor. I live in Pennsylvania. It was very scary.

That eerie silence of the skies, broken only by fighter jets, is something many of us will never forget. Thank you for sharing your experience; it captures so well the fear and uncertainty of that day.